Archive · 27 Nov 2025
Jakarta Tops UN’s List of Megacities
The United Nations recently released a report that says Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is now the world's largest city with 41.9 million people.
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is second with 36.6 million people.
Two Indian cities, New Delhi and Kolkata, are also in the top 10.
The report shows that there are now 33 megacities (cities with over 10 million people), which is a big increase from 1975 when there were only 8.
Most of the largest cities are in Asia.
The UN also changed how they define a city to make the numbers more accurate.
Jakarta is the world's largest city with 41.9 million residents, according to the UN report.
Dhaka is the second largest city with 36.6 million people, projected to become the most populous by 2050.
Two Indian cities, New Delhi (30.2 million) and Kolkata (22.5 million), are in the top 10 largest cities.
There are now 33 megacities worldwide, a significant increase from 8 in 1975.
Asia dominates the list with 19 of the world's 33 largest cities, securing nine out of the top 10 positions.
- Who
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- What
- Released the World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report
- When
- Recently (exact date not specified)
- Where
- Global cities, with a focus on Asia
- Why
- To highlight the dramatic increase in megacities and update assessment measures
- Largest City
- Jakarta, Indonesia (41.9 million)
- Second Largest City
- Dhaka, Bangladesh (36.6 million)
- Third Largest City
- Tokyo, Japan (33.4 million)
- Indian Cities in Top 10
- New Delhi (30.2 million), Kolkata (22.5 million)
- Total Megacities
- 33 (up from 8 in 1975)
- Asia's Representation
- 19 out of 33 largest cities
- New Definition of a City
- Contiguous agglomeration with 1,500+ inhabitants per square kilometre and 50,000+ total population
